August 9, 2024 • 18 mins
Tony chats with Tommy G ahead of tonight's Leagues Cup match, on ESPN 1530!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back. It is since e three to sixty right
here on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station, a service
of our good friends at Penn Station, kicking off the
third and final hour of this Friday edition of Cincy
three to sixty. Who better to do it with than
the voice of FC Cincinnati one, Tom Gallairder. Tommy g
is with us.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
What's going on, Buddy, Tony, Tony, Tony, Happy Friday. We're
back in our normal slot. It worked out last week
with the Thursday call and check in on match day,
and now we'll do it in our regular slot. It's
match day, so it's a little bit different, but we're
here nonetheless happy to kick off hour number three and
get you all up to speed for tonight's big match.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Now, before we get into tonight's match, I feel better
about pronouncing New York City FC. Who FC Cincinnati just beat?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yeah? That's right.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
That win puts FC Cincinnati into the round of thirty two,
which we'll get to in just a second. But Tommy,
take me back to earlier this week because something that
I've never myself personally ever seen on a soccer pitch.
It looked like the team was done. It looked like
all right, League's Cup was fun, let's pack it in,
let's move back to focusing on MLS and then if
(01:10):
you can sum up what happened between the seventy ninth
and eighty ninth minute at TQL Stadium.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Well, to be fair, the team was through either way,
it just would have changed the trajectory really of the
tournament and the path they would have been looking at
a match tonight against New England, who's probably a tougher
opponent than Santos Laguna, coming in probably a little better
form than Santos Laguna. But it also would have then
(01:38):
set up a much more difficult path. I would have
had to go through a match against Miami or Columbus
just to get to the semi final. Now that would
be a semi final potential Columbus or Miami match, so
a little bit of an easier path. But man, you know,
seventy ninth minute and it's too nil. And if you
saw the reaction video that I posted on my social media,
(02:01):
you know, yeah, sure there was a little bit of
life missing and being down to nil, but Pat Nowan
was pushing the right buttons and bringing the right bodies
on and man, it exploded, and Kevin asked me, the question,
is you know, thirteen minutes enough time to get two
goals And the answer was no, it was enough time
to get four goals. But man did the switch flip
(02:27):
when that first one went in? And I didn't include
it on there, but I asked, like after the second
goal was scored. I liked to Kevin, I said, forget
like getting this to a penalty kick. Seeing this out
now and getting to a penalty kick shootout. Now you're
winning the match, like you have all the momentum in
the world. Go win the match, and you know, the
team ends up scoring three more times. Actually one of
them was called off on surgery was off side on
(02:48):
that second goal that would have given am brace. But
it was just the matter of a lot of the
pieces clicking. And obviously Pat had rotated quite a bit
for this game. He brought some of his starters on
late and they were influencing the match. All four of
those goals Tony came from subs, and they all came
in different ways, and I thought it was remarkable just
(03:09):
to see, you know, the way that the group didn't
give up and the way that they kept fighting and
man once that that first goal, Like I said, the
confidence was there, and once they toied it, I was like,
this thing's over, man, They're gonna win the game. And
you got the exclamation points from the Sergio Santo's goal
which was the fourth, and s C Cincinnati wins the match.
First time in the club history that they've been down
(03:31):
two goals and came back to win. They've done it
back to tie, but never to win a match. So
that was fun. That was That was one of those
nights you're gonna remember. And all four goals were fun
and four different guys scoring. It was was pretty cool
to see as well.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
With that win, it is an advancement to the Round
of thirty two against Santos.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Was Santos Laguna, Santos Laguna, Santos.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
I'm close. What do we know about you there? What
do we know about them? Tonight's again Round of thirty
two match for FC Cincinnati at TIQL Stadium.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Yeah, it's the League m X team that's struggling a
little bit right now. They had a draw and a
loss in their two group stage matches. They didn't score
in either of those games, and they've struggled through the
regular season. Obviously it's early in the League MX season,
the fall portion of it. They're three and one. They've
only scored one goal now in six matches when you
(04:23):
put League Cup and the regular season together, and that
came out a penalty kick back on July thirteenth against Pumas,
So they haven't found a lot of success. They have
a fair number of young guys with a couple veterans
sprinkled in, So I think it's a club that that
that that does not exactly confident coming in. And you
(04:43):
have an FC Cincinnati side on the other side that
rested a few guys, that had a couple guys maybe
working their way back from injury, Mals Robinson back from Paris,
So you could have an influx of talent coming in
that's rested and ready to go, and FC Cincinnati could
look well, you know, as complete as they have weeks
or maybe even a month now in putting this team together,
(05:04):
based on what Pat Newton decides to do tonight. So
I'm excited to see this matchup. I think it's exciting
to see these teams from League MX coming because it's
a different opponent. First c SINCEWNY it's their thirty six
different opponent across all competitions that they played since twenty nineteen.
So while look, it's fun to have New York City
in and then get the win and the way they did,
like we see New York City every year, I like
(05:25):
seeing some of these different teams, and I think it's
exciting for the fan base, you know, and we may
see more, hopefully as the tournament rules along. But No,
Santos Laguna is the team is struggling and they don't
have a lot of big names that jump off that
that fans maybe will recognize. They do have some guys
who who've had some fairly significant national team experience. Choco
(05:47):
Lozano is one of them, a forward from Honduras. He
has fifty one caps thirteen goals with the Honduran national team.
You know, they have a couple guys who've had like
a you know, a cup of coffee with the Mexic
national team, but nobody that's had really really big stretches
recently with them. So they have talented players, don't get
(06:09):
me wrong, and they're gonna be young and hungry and
want to come in and pull off the upset. But Cincinnati,
I would say, certainly the favorite in this match.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
How much? And I know it's League's Cup and not
MLS play, but this team limped into this extended break.
How much confidence can be gained albeit League's Cup matches
for when you start to look ahead to enter Miami
and getting back to what this team did so consistently
for so much of the first half.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Of the year.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Yeah, no, you're absolutely right, and Pat's been preaching that
all along this tournament. Look, the goal is to get
out of the group stage and the goal is to
get some of that mojo back and f C since
is going to be at home for every big Cup
match unless they play the Columbus group, they play the Crew,
they have to go up to Columbus and play at
lower dot Com Field because Columbus won MLS Cup. But
that's the only time that they would leave to QL Stadium,
(06:57):
So they're in the state of Ohio through the whole tournament.
We talked about it here on the show that they've
lost a little bit of their home mojo this year. Right, Well,
now they got a pack two straight wins, I mean,
an awfully fun win that reminds you of teams of
of old of You know, if I say, of old
of last year, you know for f C Cincinnati, of
that dominance inside of the fortress. And I think that
(07:19):
this tournament gives them the opportunity to regain that foothold
as the dominant team that they've been at t qu
Al Stadium. So and and then over all the confidence,
right and and we it's funny we're talking about confidence
because this team is still in a great place as
far as the regular season tables can turn. But yeah,
you want them to be in form going into that
(07:40):
Miami game, assuming the Miami game still goes down as scheduled.
And of course you could get moved if if Miami
or f C Cincinnati make it to the semi final,
they could meet in the semi final and then there
would be a third place game and teams would go
on to the finals, so that game would get moved
to later in the season. But either way, whenever you
were in the regular season, you got nine least and
(08:01):
you want to be informed coming out of this tournament.
So they certainly want to keep this thing rolling and
not have it be over in the round thirty two
like it was like. And I think they have a
great opportunity to do.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
That Tommy, talk to me a little bit about from
a roster standpoint, everything happening with Aaron Bupenza. From what
I understand, the team is not on the hook for
anything that they would owe him in this sense, but
a very weird tenure now coming to an end for Bupenza.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Yeah, you know, it's a bit unpushunate the way that
it that it all ends up wrapping up, obviously, but
you know Aaron's Thom's come to close, and you know,
from a roster standpoint, how you started the question like,
does it affect the game plan tonight? No, because he
hasn't been involved for weeks and and honestly really longer
than that with his jaw injury and the incident that
(08:49):
happened there. So you know, he hasn't really been in
the mix. And this team is stacked as far as
strikers is concerned right now with what yu Ya Kubo
is doing and what you Sergio is now probably playing
the best soccer that he's played since he joined the team,
and the most consistent soccer since he's played the team,
and Kevin Kelsey and you have Corey Baird now healthy,
(09:10):
so you have all those guys in the mix. From
a strikers standpoint, so I think you're in a good place.
And Pat Newton acknowledged Yester and his press conference. Miles
Robinson back in the group back from Paris. Obviously, he
is in shape. He played the entire time in the
Olympics with the US, so he is informed and certainly
available for starting selection tonight. Deander yet then back when
the group this week and he's back in the selection,
(09:33):
available for selection tonight. In the same Perluccho. So shoot,
you're adding really three Major League Soccer All Star caliber
players back into the mix, two of which were on
the All Star team this year. Miles obviously couldn't participate,
but you're adding all three of those guys back back
into the mix tonight. And after Cincinnati, all of a sudden,
feels a lot healthier, a lot more complete, and the
(09:55):
first time we've really felt that way, you know, as
a team. And in the over a month, you have
to go back to you know, Matt Miaska and Nick
Haglin being injured, you know, towards what Matt was in
the middle of June and Nick was was towards later
in June when he got hurt, and those two guys
you know, falling out and and the team struggling to
(10:17):
have three true center backs starting at that position. DeAndre
was filling in for a while and did a did
a great job. But now you have the opportunity to
select three true center backs to start tonight, and you
know ad Miles Robinson an all star back into the mix potentially,
and Tudosiowaseim has looked great. I mean the passa Tito
(10:37):
made on U Yakubo's goal was impressive. He's looked the
part defensively. You know, we'll see what Pat decides to do.
But I'm really excited whenever the time comes to see
Miles and and Chto on the field together. So I
think from a roster standpoint, this team's in a in
a really good place at the right time.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
Much better from a roster and a health standpoint, How
do you foresee how you would you those players? Because
again you mentioned earlier in the week that a lot
of those players, all the players that made the impact
the goals, came on as subs. Now you mentioned who's
available tonight. How do you think Pat Noonan plays this
out knowing guys have missed time and knowing that in
(11:15):
Miami now coming up in just a couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Yeah, but you know, he got Ian Murphy, some rest
brought took him off at halftime. London Gheto came in
made his first team debut and I thought it a
fantastic job playing forty five minutes off the bench, being
thrown in to a match like that. So I thought
that that London did great, but that got in some rest.
Miles obviously didn't appear in the game. He had just
gotten back late on Saturday, had done a region session
(11:40):
on Sunday ahead of that Monday match, so you know, Miles,
Miles should be well rested. And those guys who came
in and scored, you, Yeah, Kubo Pavel Buka came off
the bench, so they had some some shorter shifts. Emil
Sade came off the bench in that game. So those
guys who had been in the starting lineup but now
get an opportunity. There are not a lot of guys
(12:02):
on the roster who have started both games in Leagues Cup.
So I think honestly the way that Pat managed minutes
through the group stage has worked out really well to
set them up and then you get the influx of
guys like Luco DeAndre Miles back into the mix, and
that just gives you a bonus. However you look at it,
if they're coming off the bench, that's a bonus and
(12:25):
they're available. But if they're they're able to start even better.
And I think, you know, from a roster standpoint, they're
in a really good place right now.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
How from a league's cup standpoint, again, this is round
of thirty two, how do you navigate the way they've
been doing it to? Okay, now we're at a stage
where we can go win this thing. Let's go win it?
Does that make sense of when does the when does
the switch of Okay, I don't want to to put
my roster in a band spot. I don't want to
wear guys out, and then you get close enough to
where it's like, well let's go win. It's right there.
(12:55):
When when would that switch? In your opinion?
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Yeah, I think I think who's starting right now out
with elimination game. I think that we're gonna see the
team go for it tonight and every night moving forward.
They want to win a trophy and there's you know,
both financial and competitive rewards to doing that, and it's
only gonna get more and more difficult advanced. But like
I said, you get the advantage of knowing you're at home.
(13:20):
And I don't think you're gonna see you know, unless
there's a an injury or a knock or a fitness
situation that dictates, you know, rotation. I don't think you're
gonna see the rotation just to get somebody rest for
the regular season. If you make it through, uh, you know,
to the final, you're gonna playing seven games, and and
(13:40):
and sure, then it's a little bit of an issue
as far as you know, you just put your guys
every four days through a game, you know, for almost
a month. Last year, obviously, Miami completely dropped off after
winning League's Cup. Nashville dropped off quite a bit after
winning or losing in the final of League's Cup. So
I think some of those teams that did end up
(14:01):
playing seven games, they saw the fatigue from it. You know,
if if that if seasons any would to make it
to the semifinals, then they either play in the final
or third place game like I mentioned, and that Miami
game gets moved, they wouldn't play then until at home
on the thirty first, so you'd get a you know,
a week seven six seven days, you know, to prepare
for that and get some guys some rest. Maybe then
(14:22):
that's where you see some rotation. But I think now
you're going for it, and every time you win, you're
you're you're sniffing it out a little bit closer to
a trophy. And that's everybody's goal. So I don't think
there's the foot's coming off the gas at all, you know,
unless it's a four nail game tonight and you can
get guys rest in the final half hour.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
When when you start to look at the end of
this month, as we spend a few more minutes you
with Tom gallad to the voice of fccon NATI, the
end of this month, we're talking about Inner Miami, who's
now a little bit more of a lead in the standings.
But what do you need or what do you think
this team needs to get and from either a roster standpoint,
confidence standpoint on the field, off the field, what do
(15:04):
they need to get done to get back to being
themselves again that we saw for so much of the
season to really kick this this next half of the
season off strong.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
Yeah, you're You're absolutely right in that you want to
see them be that team that that we've loved to
cheer for, that's been fantastic, that is more like themselves
and was doing that winning streak.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Earlier this year. And I think a lot of it
starts with just the stability on the back line that
hasn't been there that I talked about a few minutes ago,
and and and with Miles now done with his national
team duty that really has spanned the last two months,
you know, first with the senior team and then with
the youth team at the Olympics. You know, so I
think it starts right there. And if you find that stability,
(15:47):
you get your Dozy in, you get Miles back. Ian's
been good now on a contract extension. You have kipping
that mix. Alvis and DeAndre have helped out provide depth
now London has provided some depth minute wise. So if
it starts there, you know, those goals that were being
given up start to reduce a little bit. And then
you get Luco healthy and back into the mix, and
you know, when Luca is on the field, this team
(16:08):
is better. The proof isn't the pudding. I mean, the
first time they've ever won two games without him, are
these last two games in leagues come so, you know,
so I think that that is a big piece of
the puzzle. And then making sure you stay healthy because
it's going to be a a little bit of a
wild ride down the home stretch. Like you mentioned, it
comes back with Miami. Then two games later you have
hell is Real at TQL Stadium with the Columbus Crew.
(16:31):
He had a tough, you know, kind of two match
roadswing at Minnesota at Nashville home for LAFC, who, by
the way, is signed about all of the French national
team and is in contention for league's cut or not
except for the supporter shield. So that should be a
big showdown. On September twenty eighth, you turn around, you're
gonna play at New York City FC, who's doing really
well this year, home for Orlando City who's gotten hot
(16:54):
as of late. And you wrap it up on decision
Day at Philadelphia, who might be fighting for a playoff spot.
So it's it's gonna be a little bit of a
chaotic stretch to close out the season. And imagine if
that Miami game gets moved. Yeah, now that match falls
somewhere in between everything I talked about after you're going through,
(17:15):
you know, a Big League Cup run. So I think
it's gonna be intriguing. But I think that the pieces
are there. And remember the windows still open. So Chris
Albright and his staff are working to get somebody else in, certainly,
and now they have a deep spot open. So with
with Aaron's departure, they could fill that deep spot. They
obviously get get a little bit of Rosster flexibility there.
(17:36):
So I don't know that they're done. I haven't. I
haven't asked that question directly of Chris yet. I would
imagine that he is not, and that there's going to
be looking at a few different guys to come in
and help this team and provide a little more depth
down the home stretch.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
That is the voice of Tom Gleat or the voice
of FC Cincinnati. FC Cincinnati match Day round of thirty
two actions tonight at Tqurol Stadium. Tommy has always man
very rea of your time, and I look forward to
doing this again next week.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Yeah, absolutely I do as well.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Hopefully when we do it next Friday, we're previewing a quarterfinal. Yes,
it could be like an Orlando or a Cruise a
Zool coming in, so yeah, hopefully that's what we're discussing
in a week.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
Either way, I'm all in. That is Tommy G. This
is Sincy three sixty on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station,
A service at Penn Station back with Bob man Jean
from Novacare Right after this on ESPN fifteen thirty
Welcome back. It is since e three to sixty right
here on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station, a service
of our good friends at Penn Station, kicking off the
third and final hour of this Friday edition of Cincy
three to sixty. Who better to do it with than
the voice of FC Cincinnati one, Tom Gallairder. Tommy g
is with us.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
What's going on, Buddy, Tony, Tony, Tony, Happy Friday. We're
back in our normal slot. It worked out last week
with the Thursday call and check in on match day,
and now we'll do it in our regular slot. It's
match day, so it's a little bit different, but we're
here nonetheless happy to kick off hour number three and
get you all up to speed for tonight's big match.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Now, before we get into tonight's match, I feel better
about pronouncing New York City FC. Who FC Cincinnati just beat?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yeah? That's right.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
That win puts FC Cincinnati into the round of thirty two,
which we'll get to in just a second. But Tommy,
take me back to earlier this week because something that
I've never myself personally ever seen on a soccer pitch.
It looked like the team was done. It looked like
all right, League's Cup was fun, let's pack it in,
let's move back to focusing on MLS and then if
(01:10):
you can sum up what happened between the seventy ninth
and eighty ninth minute at TQL Stadium.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Well, to be fair, the team was through either way,
it just would have changed the trajectory really of the
tournament and the path they would have been looking at
a match tonight against New England, who's probably a tougher
opponent than Santos Laguna, coming in probably a little better
form than Santos Laguna. But it also would have then
(01:38):
set up a much more difficult path. I would have
had to go through a match against Miami or Columbus
just to get to the semi final. Now that would
be a semi final potential Columbus or Miami match, so
a little bit of an easier path. But man, you know,
seventy ninth minute and it's too nil. And if you
saw the reaction video that I posted on my social media,
(02:01):
you know, yeah, sure there was a little bit of
life missing and being down to nil, but Pat Nowan
was pushing the right buttons and bringing the right bodies
on and man, it exploded, and Kevin asked me, the question,
is you know, thirteen minutes enough time to get two
goals And the answer was no, it was enough time
to get four goals. But man did the switch flip
(02:27):
when that first one went in? And I didn't include
it on there, but I asked, like after the second
goal was scored. I liked to Kevin, I said, forget
like getting this to a penalty kick. Seeing this out
now and getting to a penalty kick shootout. Now you're
winning the match, like you have all the momentum in
the world. Go win the match, and you know, the
team ends up scoring three more times. Actually one of
them was called off on surgery was off side on
(02:48):
that second goal that would have given am brace. But
it was just the matter of a lot of the
pieces clicking. And obviously Pat had rotated quite a bit
for this game. He brought some of his starters on
late and they were influencing the match. All four of
those goals Tony came from subs, and they all came
in different ways, and I thought it was remarkable just
(03:09):
to see, you know, the way that the group didn't
give up and the way that they kept fighting and
man once that that first goal, Like I said, the
confidence was there, and once they toied it, I was like,
this thing's over, man, They're gonna win the game. And
you got the exclamation points from the Sergio Santo's goal
which was the fourth, and s C Cincinnati wins the match.
First time in the club history that they've been down
(03:31):
two goals and came back to win. They've done it
back to tie, but never to win a match. So
that was fun. That was That was one of those
nights you're gonna remember. And all four goals were fun
and four different guys scoring. It was was pretty cool
to see as well.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
With that win, it is an advancement to the Round
of thirty two against Santos.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Was Santos Laguna, Santos Laguna, Santos.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
I'm close. What do we know about you there? What
do we know about them? Tonight's again Round of thirty
two match for FC Cincinnati at TIQL Stadium.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Yeah, it's the League m X team that's struggling a
little bit right now. They had a draw and a
loss in their two group stage matches. They didn't score
in either of those games, and they've struggled through the
regular season. Obviously it's early in the League MX season,
the fall portion of it. They're three and one. They've
only scored one goal now in six matches when you
(04:23):
put League Cup and the regular season together, and that
came out a penalty kick back on July thirteenth against Pumas,
So they haven't found a lot of success. They have
a fair number of young guys with a couple veterans
sprinkled in, So I think it's a club that that
that that does not exactly confident coming in. And you
(04:43):
have an FC Cincinnati side on the other side that
rested a few guys, that had a couple guys maybe
working their way back from injury, Mals Robinson back from Paris,
So you could have an influx of talent coming in
that's rested and ready to go, and FC Cincinnati could
look well, you know, as complete as they have weeks
or maybe even a month now in putting this team together,
(05:04):
based on what Pat Newton decides to do tonight. So
I'm excited to see this matchup. I think it's exciting
to see these teams from League MX coming because it's
a different opponent. First c SINCEWNY it's their thirty six
different opponent across all competitions that they played since twenty nineteen.
So while look, it's fun to have New York City
in and then get the win and the way they did,
like we see New York City every year, I like
(05:25):
seeing some of these different teams, and I think it's
exciting for the fan base, you know, and we may
see more, hopefully as the tournament rules along. But No,
Santos Laguna is the team is struggling and they don't
have a lot of big names that jump off that
that fans maybe will recognize. They do have some guys
who who've had some fairly significant national team experience. Choco
(05:47):
Lozano is one of them, a forward from Honduras. He
has fifty one caps thirteen goals with the Honduran national team.
You know, they have a couple guys who've had like
a you know, a cup of coffee with the Mexic
national team, but nobody that's had really really big stretches
recently with them. So they have talented players, don't get
(06:09):
me wrong, and they're gonna be young and hungry and
want to come in and pull off the upset. But Cincinnati,
I would say, certainly the favorite in this match.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
How much? And I know it's League's Cup and not
MLS play, but this team limped into this extended break.
How much confidence can be gained albeit League's Cup matches
for when you start to look ahead to enter Miami
and getting back to what this team did so consistently
for so much of the first half.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Of the year.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Yeah, no, you're absolutely right, and Pat's been preaching that
all along this tournament. Look, the goal is to get
out of the group stage and the goal is to
get some of that mojo back and f C since
is going to be at home for every big Cup
match unless they play the Columbus group, they play the Crew,
they have to go up to Columbus and play at
lower dot Com Field because Columbus won MLS Cup. But
that's the only time that they would leave to QL Stadium,
(06:57):
So they're in the state of Ohio through the whole tournament.
We talked about it here on the show that they've
lost a little bit of their home mojo this year. Right, Well,
now they got a pack two straight wins, I mean,
an awfully fun win that reminds you of teams of
of old of You know, if I say, of old
of last year, you know for f C Cincinnati, of
that dominance inside of the fortress. And I think that
(07:19):
this tournament gives them the opportunity to regain that foothold
as the dominant team that they've been at t qu
Al Stadium. So and and then over all the confidence,
right and and we it's funny we're talking about confidence
because this team is still in a great place as
far as the regular season tables can turn. But yeah,
you want them to be in form going into that
(07:40):
Miami game, assuming the Miami game still goes down as scheduled.
And of course you could get moved if if Miami
or f C Cincinnati make it to the semi final,
they could meet in the semi final and then there
would be a third place game and teams would go
on to the finals, so that game would get moved
to later in the season. But either way, whenever you
were in the regular season, you got nine least and
(08:01):
you want to be informed coming out of this tournament.
So they certainly want to keep this thing rolling and
not have it be over in the round thirty two
like it was like. And I think they have a
great opportunity to do.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
That Tommy, talk to me a little bit about from
a roster standpoint, everything happening with Aaron Bupenza. From what
I understand, the team is not on the hook for
anything that they would owe him in this sense, but
a very weird tenure now coming to an end for Bupenza.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Yeah, you know, it's a bit unpushunate the way that
it that it all ends up wrapping up, obviously, but
you know Aaron's Thom's come to close, and you know,
from a roster standpoint, how you started the question like,
does it affect the game plan tonight? No, because he
hasn't been involved for weeks and and honestly really longer
than that with his jaw injury and the incident that
(08:49):
happened there. So you know, he hasn't really been in
the mix. And this team is stacked as far as
strikers is concerned right now with what yu Ya Kubo
is doing and what you Sergio is now probably playing
the best soccer that he's played since he joined the team,
and the most consistent soccer since he's played the team,
and Kevin Kelsey and you have Corey Baird now healthy,
(09:10):
so you have all those guys in the mix. From
a strikers standpoint, so I think you're in a good place.
And Pat Newton acknowledged Yester and his press conference. Miles
Robinson back in the group back from Paris. Obviously, he
is in shape. He played the entire time in the
Olympics with the US, so he is informed and certainly
available for starting selection tonight. Deander yet then back when
the group this week and he's back in the selection,
(09:33):
available for selection tonight. In the same Perluccho. So shoot,
you're adding really three Major League Soccer All Star caliber
players back into the mix, two of which were on
the All Star team this year. Miles obviously couldn't participate,
but you're adding all three of those guys back back
into the mix tonight. And after Cincinnati, all of a sudden,
feels a lot healthier, a lot more complete, and the
(09:55):
first time we've really felt that way, you know, as
a team. And in the over a month, you have
to go back to you know, Matt Miaska and Nick
Haglin being injured, you know, towards what Matt was in
the middle of June and Nick was was towards later
in June when he got hurt, and those two guys
you know, falling out and and the team struggling to
(10:17):
have three true center backs starting at that position. DeAndre
was filling in for a while and did a did
a great job. But now you have the opportunity to
select three true center backs to start tonight, and you
know ad Miles Robinson an all star back into the mix potentially,
and Tudosiowaseim has looked great. I mean the passa Tito
(10:37):
made on U Yakubo's goal was impressive. He's looked the
part defensively. You know, we'll see what Pat decides to do.
But I'm really excited whenever the time comes to see
Miles and and Chto on the field together. So I
think from a roster standpoint, this team's in a in
a really good place at the right time.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
Much better from a roster and a health standpoint, How
do you foresee how you would you those players? Because
again you mentioned earlier in the week that a lot
of those players, all the players that made the impact
the goals, came on as subs. Now you mentioned who's
available tonight. How do you think Pat Noonan plays this
out knowing guys have missed time and knowing that in
(11:15):
Miami now coming up in just a couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Yeah, but you know, he got Ian Murphy, some rest
brought took him off at halftime. London Gheto came in
made his first team debut and I thought it a
fantastic job playing forty five minutes off the bench, being
thrown in to a match like that. So I thought
that that London did great, but that got in some rest.
Miles obviously didn't appear in the game. He had just
gotten back late on Saturday, had done a region session
(11:40):
on Sunday ahead of that Monday match, so you know, Miles,
Miles should be well rested. And those guys who came
in and scored, you, Yeah, Kubo Pavel Buka came off
the bench, so they had some some shorter shifts. Emil
Sade came off the bench in that game. So those
guys who had been in the starting lineup but now
get an opportunity. There are not a lot of guys
(12:02):
on the roster who have started both games in Leagues Cup.
So I think honestly the way that Pat managed minutes
through the group stage has worked out really well to
set them up and then you get the influx of
guys like Luco DeAndre Miles back into the mix, and
that just gives you a bonus. However you look at it,
if they're coming off the bench, that's a bonus and
(12:25):
they're available. But if they're they're able to start even better.
And I think, you know, from a roster standpoint, they're
in a really good place right now.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
How from a league's cup standpoint, again, this is round
of thirty two, how do you navigate the way they've
been doing it to? Okay, now we're at a stage
where we can go win this thing. Let's go win it?
Does that make sense of when does the when does
the switch of Okay, I don't want to to put
my roster in a band spot. I don't want to
wear guys out, and then you get close enough to
where it's like, well let's go win. It's right there.
(12:55):
When when would that switch? In your opinion?
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Yeah, I think I think who's starting right now out
with elimination game. I think that we're gonna see the
team go for it tonight and every night moving forward.
They want to win a trophy and there's you know,
both financial and competitive rewards to doing that, and it's
only gonna get more and more difficult advanced. But like
I said, you get the advantage of knowing you're at home.
(13:20):
And I don't think you're gonna see you know, unless
there's a an injury or a knock or a fitness
situation that dictates, you know, rotation. I don't think you're
gonna see the rotation just to get somebody rest for
the regular season. If you make it through, uh, you know,
to the final, you're gonna playing seven games, and and
(13:40):
and sure, then it's a little bit of an issue
as far as you know, you just put your guys
every four days through a game, you know, for almost
a month. Last year, obviously, Miami completely dropped off after
winning League's Cup. Nashville dropped off quite a bit after
winning or losing in the final of League's Cup. So
I think some of those teams that did end up
(14:01):
playing seven games, they saw the fatigue from it. You know,
if if that if seasons any would to make it
to the semifinals, then they either play in the final
or third place game like I mentioned, and that Miami
game gets moved, they wouldn't play then until at home
on the thirty first, so you'd get a you know,
a week seven six seven days, you know, to prepare
for that and get some guys some rest. Maybe then
(14:22):
that's where you see some rotation. But I think now
you're going for it, and every time you win, you're
you're you're sniffing it out a little bit closer to
a trophy. And that's everybody's goal. So I don't think
there's the foot's coming off the gas at all, you know,
unless it's a four nail game tonight and you can
get guys rest in the final half hour.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
When when you start to look at the end of
this month, as we spend a few more minutes you
with Tom gallad to the voice of fccon NATI, the
end of this month, we're talking about Inner Miami, who's
now a little bit more of a lead in the standings.
But what do you need or what do you think
this team needs to get and from either a roster standpoint,
confidence standpoint on the field, off the field, what do
(15:04):
they need to get done to get back to being
themselves again that we saw for so much of the
season to really kick this this next half of the
season off strong.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
Yeah, you're You're absolutely right in that you want to
see them be that team that that we've loved to
cheer for, that's been fantastic, that is more like themselves
and was doing that winning streak.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Earlier this year. And I think a lot of it
starts with just the stability on the back line that
hasn't been there that I talked about a few minutes ago,
and and and with Miles now done with his national
team duty that really has spanned the last two months,
you know, first with the senior team and then with
the youth team at the Olympics. You know, so I
think it starts right there. And if you find that stability,
(15:47):
you get your Dozy in, you get Miles back. Ian's
been good now on a contract extension. You have kipping
that mix. Alvis and DeAndre have helped out provide depth
now London has provided some depth minute wise. So if
it starts there, you know, those goals that were being
given up start to reduce a little bit. And then
you get Luco healthy and back into the mix, and
you know, when Luca is on the field, this team
(16:08):
is better. The proof isn't the pudding. I mean, the
first time they've ever won two games without him, are
these last two games in leagues come so, you know,
so I think that that is a big piece of
the puzzle. And then making sure you stay healthy because
it's going to be a a little bit of a
wild ride down the home stretch. Like you mentioned, it
comes back with Miami. Then two games later you have
hell is Real at TQL Stadium with the Columbus Crew.
(16:31):
He had a tough, you know, kind of two match
roadswing at Minnesota at Nashville home for LAFC, who, by
the way, is signed about all of the French national
team and is in contention for league's cut or not
except for the supporter shield. So that should be a
big showdown. On September twenty eighth, you turn around, you're
gonna play at New York City FC, who's doing really
well this year, home for Orlando City who's gotten hot
(16:54):
as of late. And you wrap it up on decision
Day at Philadelphia, who might be fighting for a playoff spot.
So it's it's gonna be a little bit of a
chaotic stretch to close out the season. And imagine if
that Miami game gets moved. Yeah, now that match falls
somewhere in between everything I talked about after you're going through,
(17:15):
you know, a Big League Cup run. So I think
it's gonna be intriguing. But I think that the pieces
are there. And remember the windows still open. So Chris
Albright and his staff are working to get somebody else in, certainly,
and now they have a deep spot open. So with
with Aaron's departure, they could fill that deep spot. They
obviously get get a little bit of Rosster flexibility there.
(17:36):
So I don't know that they're done. I haven't. I
haven't asked that question directly of Chris yet. I would
imagine that he is not, and that there's going to
be looking at a few different guys to come in
and help this team and provide a little more depth
down the home stretch.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
That is the voice of Tom Gleat or the voice
of FC Cincinnati. FC Cincinnati match Day round of thirty
two actions tonight at Tqurol Stadium. Tommy has always man
very rea of your time, and I look forward to
doing this again next week.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Yeah, absolutely I do as well.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Hopefully when we do it next Friday, we're previewing a quarterfinal. Yes,
it could be like an Orlando or a Cruise a
Zool coming in, so yeah, hopefully that's what we're discussing
in a week.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
Either way, I'm all in. That is Tommy G. This
is Sincy three sixty on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station,
A service at Penn Station back with Bob man Jean
from Novacare Right after this on ESPN fifteen thirty
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